My house is an absolute wreck also. It seems I'm the only one that will pick up after myself. I constantly look around and say to myself, I have to straighten that up, or I have to put that away, always someone else's junk. I just have finally given up.

Women, I think, are worse in this regards then men. Most men don't seem to be bothered by the house being a wreck, but women will worry about the mess and try to clean up, resulting in doing too much, and then suffer the consequences.

When I start working around the house, I usually start sweating, and then pseudo-flare hits me, so I stop. That is the only way I can "pace" myself, by getting to the point that I just cannot go on. Why do I get to that point though I don't know. I should stop before that point. It takes me about 2 days to get back on my feet after that happens. I try hard to say "f@%# it" but I find myself starting it all back up again as soon as I have a good rest.

Tara-
be honest though-everytime-or even every now and again, some good intentioned sort (it's always the ones with good intentions) will tell you to "slow down, take it easy-don't expect too much from yourself-you have MS," and at that point, don't you ever feel the urge to, hmm, I dunno, rip their jugular out with your teeth? I know I do-

my house is not so bad.. my mom cleaned it knowing boys were heading off to college and it's amazing how clean the house stays with just me here. I'm lonely, though......


A.

Ya know vex, ripping their jugular out with my teeth is a feeling I often have. :P

A - that is what I remind myself every time I trip over a toy. So lucky to have them in my life.

i do it because i fear the next day.i will always get worst not better for me anymore...so keep moving stay happy love your family.who cares what the house looks like.

I soooooo feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much I want to do, plan to do, need to do and finally can't do!!!!! Oh, what the heck does "pace yourself" mean????? Okay, so I "pace myself" and crushing fatigue hits and can't walk well....I "over do it" and crushing fatigue hits and can't walk well or sometimes I don't do anything.......crushing fatigue hits and can't walk...............I can't win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am embarassed cause I cannot seem to keep up with picking up after myself, much less anybody else. Oh, then I get overwhelmed with all I need to do and can't think straight....or crooked!!!! LOL

Well the only child around here is my 75 year old husband. I often wonder if he even knows I am alive. If I didn't cook food once in awhile I suspect I'd never hear his voice. I'm sadly not joking about this.
My house is not that bad considering that I have all of my cats. One of them needs to go to the veterinarian very soon. He is a mean old guy (a feral cat he was) and he weighs about 20 lbs. I just had hernia surgery and I'm afraid to try to pick him up and get him into the cage without being mauled badly. Yikes.
My husband likes working outside luckily.
I really worry about the house and how it looks a lot.
My doctor told me that if something happens to him "they" (whoever THEY are) will put ME in a nursing home.
I'll leave the country before that happens and I am again quite serious about this.
Can they force a person into a nursing home because they cannot take care of a small house? My house is very small - about 800 sq. feet.
I worry constantly about this issue. Any input/ideas/support are most greatly appreciated!
You aren't alone with your mess, believe me. It my case it is cats not kids and an old husband that doesn't seem highly interested in much by the TV set and football games. ugh. ;~)

This is so timely! Yes, my house is a wreck too. And even more than just cleaning the house, I tend to push myself with scheduling stuff that I need to do. I was feeling pretty good this week, so I ended up scheduling a pretty full day today with church, running errands, cleaning etc. Now, I'm sitting here with tingly feet, a splitting headache, I can barely concentrate, and I am slumped onto the couch like a rag doll. When will we learn?

Too true. I have gone back to work, only 4 hours but it takes me 1.5hrs each way so I leave home at 7am & get home at 3.30 with 1ain each way, 30 mins scooter to hour trhome etc. Then I get home & madly spend 2 hours trying to clean out the front room. This was a room that had "stuff" everywhere, with a computer desk, another desk (that was dumping for paper etc), 2 wall units (7ft high x 3ft wide), couch - covered in jackets, cushions, back packs etc. This room has to be empty (thats right - empty, by wed morn as we are getting new carpet in there. They will move most of the furniture. I have been on this room for days & gradually getting there but time is running out.
I am paying for it now, have moved boxes, books etc & know I will be suffering in the morning & still got to do more. Still got 3 boxes I packed need to be moved.
When will we learn - unfortunately we see things need to be done so we try till we cant anymore. I dont think we ever learn. (after this we still got 2 rooms to do with vinyl being put in)

Until anyone has checked out the "hoarder" videos on television or on youtube, let's not be so hard on ourselves.

None of us asked for MS. It sure does challenge us to create an agenda of those things we really want to get done. My son takes care of the yard, my boyfriend takes care of a lot of the inside. I do rewash dishes a lot and prefer to do some things myself. I just have to have in mind an hour or better break afteward. Remebering the spoon theory. If I use up all my spoons, I better have a good list of books close by to occupy me for a while.

That spoon theory helps a lot. My exercise is a good use of spoons .. it's like making cash deposits in the bank ... in my opinion. I may have to take a break after the treadmill and have difficult walking to my chair but it's like builing up my endorphins and helping my mind and body work better.

I don't have little ones to look after but I'd have to count their spoon usage as top priority if I did. I'm thankful that I had all errands and sport drop off/pick up pre MS. ;) I guess if I had to do it again, I'd need to incorporate the little one or ones with jobs to help out. No two ways about it. The way things work. I think kids need more of that in order to feel connected in the right ways anyway.

Ok, I'm rambling - going to get my post treadmill situation set and get rolling.
Hugs,
~Lorrie

And never, ever let anyone tell any of you how to run your house. If need be, if things came to it, you could hire someone to straighten up for a couple of hours per week. That doesn't cost much. If I needed that, I would certainly check it out.

I totally understand, I am constantly finding myself pushing myself past my limits. My Husband says I'm stubborn, and I agree, but I also feel that if I don't do things now, I wont be able to do them in the future, (The old saying that if you don't use it you lose it) And Even though I feel most days like curling up into a ball, and literally disappearing I know that I have so many people counting on me. And before anyone says it, I know that one of those people is me.... (Just I tend not to care so much about my needs as I do everyone else.)
I have just been confirmed to have MS along with a loooonnnggg list of other problems health. Just found this site and hope that I will be able to connect with people with some of the same conditions I have. So I don't feel so alone.

It seems many of us feel the same. We want to hurry up and use it while we have it, while we can. It reminds me of this pic I found a while back.

WARNING: The picture my be objectionably and should not be opened in front of children. Just a warning.

http://www.adrants.com/images/ms_01.jpg

I get cranky when my house if a wreck. That is my biggest problem. It effects me to the point that I'm cranky... ugh! I feel soooo guilty.. I'm home.. I have plenty of time sooo why can't I get it done...??? Why can't my floor be shiny?? Or the carpet be vaccuumed?? Or furniture be dusted?? I always had this ideal of a mother I wanted to be.. warm cookies after school, etc.. etc... and now, I'm doing good that I'm up, showered, dressed and hey, what do you know, they have clean clothes.. lol.. Seriously, I put myself through such guilt trips it is rediculous!

How ironic that I read this when I was sitting here making a list of things I need buy, get done, clean before Thanksgiving. This will be the first yr in 10 that I won't have to work & I wanted to make Thanksgiving dinner for our family. I don't know if it's going to happen though. I just don't see how I can get the house, grocery list and myself ready before then. I still have over a week and I am ready to throw in the towel!! I guess it's a good thing I haven't invited anyone yet! LOL!

Tara, it was refreshing to read that someone understands. I, too, push myself and I LIVE ALONE. I do not have children to look after, but daily living activities can only be neglected for so long. I have pushed myself until I could not stand. Why? Just as you stated, get it done while you can. It may be another 2 or 3 weeks before you can make another attempt. I also call it "racing against the fatigue". I will feel fatigue or some other symptom and I try to hurry up to finish what I am doing like I am in an actual race. Jeepers! When I think about it, I can pace myself and this does make a difference. Taking those small breaks can make a big difference. I must put up a sign in my house to remind me to pace myself. ;-) Otherwise, I forget.